Should I spy on our au pair - I need to check their behaviour

[morval99]

My children have started to say a few strange things about the au pair. I don't know whether to believe them or not, and don't want to start rocking the boat / challenging the au pair. I read in the paper earlier this year that you can now legally spy on the elderly in residential homes. Is there something you can use at home legally, to check on your au pair? Any ideas ? Anyone know?

Agree with outraged. I have nothing to hide but I would be very uncomfortable being recorded at work.

Either my bosses trust me or they don't. And if they don't then I shouldn't be there.

My children have started to say a few strange things about the au pair

"she just watches tv and doesn't play with us" is not 'a few strange things'

Ask her what she's been upto when you get home?

How old are your children?

Just talk to her, unless your children are in the habit of lying then there's probably something in what they say but you may be able to resolve it.

It's maybe true to some extent.

However kids do exaggerate. Dd told my mum something similar about me! Because sometimes I was knackered and wanted to sit down with a cup of tea rather than play yet another board game!

I would unplug the TV, and take the batteries out the remote so if she turns the TV on, she won't be able to flick through the channels!!

I would also ask her to let you know what activities the children are doing, either by taking pictures or writing a little diary. Perhaps put it in a way that you are missing your children so want to know as much about their day as possible, so as not to arise suspicion.

Her laziness could result in accidents so you are right to want to put a stop to it!

Ditto Leeds

I've said this many times - nannies don't like being filmed

Not coz we do anything wrong when alone but the things that we do do - ie crawling about on hands and knees chasing our charges

Singing off tune and out of key

Etc etc

I feel awkward being filmed. If a child cries/ has a tantrum unless the parent is watching 100% they may not see why they are crying

I have a camera in the bed room in current job. Generally not a problem I like to see child asleep

But this camera is in the ceiling and covers whole room - and had sound monitors - so everything is recorded and can be played back

Child gets fed last night time bottle in the room and I'm always very conscious of the 'eye in the sky'

anyway I regress from op topic

Watching a lot of TV isn't great but not the end of the world - but come home early and access the situation and then talk to her

All day? Exactly how long does she have the children? I thought APs only did a few hours a day?